Communication is Key

Every once in a while I’m reminded of how important communication is for stable relationships.  This week I had a chat with a long-time contact and author who considers himself to be a personal development champion.  Part way through the conversation it became obvious that we just weren’t communicating. 

So, I applied the tried and proven techniques of active listening and rephrasing.  Well, after a few attempts I realized that my colleague was so busy hearing what he wanted to hear that he was forgetting to listen.  I’m sure this has happened to you at one point or another in your life.

What do you do when you’re in a situation where someone thinks they know what you’re saying without you saying it?  What do you do when there is a big puddle in your path?  Do you drain it before you continue or do you just hop over it?  Well, in the spirit of not wasting my time, I decided to just let him live his own perception.  Too bad he never actually heard what I was saying because it involved a special gift for him. 

After the conversation ended, I spent some time thinking about my colleague and his level of success over the last while.  I realized that although he’s an author that he has struggled in his book sales and has also struggled in the other ventures he’s pursued.  I also realized that of the business tips I had shared with him over the years, he also hadn’t heard them. 

Alas, what can you do when you want to help a blind man?  Do you carry him to where he wants to go, or do you let him stumble and suffer and hope he ends up there safe and sound?  Or perhaps he was never meant to arrive there at all?

I wonder what I’m not listening to in my life?  How about you?